Daily Updates from I.B.M. Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona

[Scott Wells]

If you were unable to attend this year's I.B.M. convention, or you did attend and would like to hear some perspectives of other registrants, then be sure to listen to the four daily updates from the convention hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. Overall, it was a good convention attended by nearly 500 people (including organizers and talent) with excellent evening shows, varied talent and lectures (from cards and coins to cruise ship work and seances) by a raft of professional performers. The chats on each podcast feature conversations with talent, organizers, dealers, and registrants. Here are the links to each day:

#501: Day One - 2019 I.B.M. Convention Update: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/sco ... convention
#502: Day Two - 2019 I.B.M. Convention Update: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/sco ... convention
#503: Day Three - 2019 I.B.M. Convention Update: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/sco ... convention
#504: Day Four - 2019 I.B.M. Convention Update: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/sco ... convention

Be sure to subscribe to our "pod-letter" to keep up to date with what's happening and suggestions from the archives that you may have missed.

[erdnasephile]

Thank you, Scott--fine job as always!

One of the worrisome things I heard on the podcast was a couple of the IBM higher ups discussing the possible dire future of IBM conventions given the persistent lower attendance figures. Scott, do you have any attendance figures on the convention and do you know whether or not we broke even? Thanks!

[Scott Wells]

Thank you, Scott--fine job as always!

<snip >- Scott, do you have any attendance figures on the convention and do you know whether or not we broke even? Thanks!

I was told that they had a little less than 500 attendees thanks to "walk-ins" and day passes. That includes organizers, youth, adults, and talent. So I would estimate that if you took out those who were comped or didn't pay full price for all four days (talent and some organizers) that it would bring it down to a little above 400. As to whether that was enough to break even, I would hope so. That should be enough, but I haven't heard any official word.

One thing Mel Kientz and I did when we were co-chairmen in Miami several years ago was to have curtains made for our hotel shows. The Board agreed to buy rather than rent them, then they were stored for years. I understand that they finally dug them out and used them this year. They looked great and saved the I.B.M. a ton of money. But Terry Richardson was the unsung hero for all the work he did on the labor side of the business.

Anyway, what you're talking about regarding the financial future of the I.B.M. as well as the S.A.M. is an important topic. The S.A.M. Board recently approved and announced the elimination of continuing to send hard copies of M.U.M. to Life Members. I understand, respect and agree with their decision, though it is not a popular one. But the journal is still available digitally, and I don't need more paper in my home anyway.

But there are hard decisions like that which both organizations must make to retain membership and extend their lives for at least a few more years. But ultimately, will these organizations survive? And if so, then why and how and in what capacity to what end? Is it time for the pendulum to swing away from organized clubs in general?

[Richard Kaufman]

Ultimately these organizations will have to combine in order to eke out another 20 to 30 years of existence. The longer they wait to combine, the more money will be wasted, and the less there will be in the bank for the long run.